Lopez has played eight fourth-quarter minutes in seven games and none since Nov. 3, when he lasted 80 seconds.

Lopez has not been the mobile, assertive physical presence he became last season until he was out seven weeks for a bulging disk. He had 18 points and 14 rebounds Oct. 29 against the Lakers but has 13 points and 10 rebounds in four games since then.

"I think I'm not quite as explosive as I was last season," Lopez said. "I need to get back to that. But I also need to figure out how to play not being quite as explosive.

"I think it's just part of the rehab process. I think eventually it'll come back."

Lopez represents hope for rebounding improvement. The Suns 29th in defensive rebounding and that rank, combined with their turnover problems, exaggerates their defensive deficiency. The defense actually has been better than the No. 29 rank in defensive field-goal percentage (48.5) suggests.

Lopez had a strong initial return in May but said it was different prepping for one team. His results slipped then, too, and he logged 32 minutes over the final three playoff games.

That was playoff pressure with limited expectations. This season carried big expectations because he is the lone true big man in a rotation lean on enforcers and rebounders.

"I'm trying not to think about it," Lopez said. "I'm just trying to just go out there and play. I think that is when I'm at my best."

His offense was needed too as a pick-and-roll option for Steve Nash and a post-up threat for inside scoring. Lopez is shooting 42 percent with only five free throw attempts.

"I think Robin still is trying to get back to his best physically," Nash said. "He's not moving the same as he did last year. He's not covering the same amount of ground. It takes time. Backs are difficult and what he had is not a joking matter.."

Nash trade 'chatter'

There have been no reports of Nash trade talks, just speculation that there could be some. Coach Alvin Gentry took an ax to that seed before it sprouted.

"Steve's not going to be traded, that I can tell you," Gentry said. "If he's getting traded, I'm going along with him, OK? Have you looked at the way he's playing? He's playing at a real high level. Why would we trade him? I don't understand that. That's nothing that's been discussed here."

Nash said he "would love to stay here" and called the speculation "chatter, not really substantial." Facing another reconstruction, he noted that he signed a contract extension after the Suns missed the 2009 playoffs.

"Now we're kind of starting at the bottom again but let's see what we can do," Nash said. "Let's see how good we can get."